Macquarie Assessment Tests

Careers at Macquarie

For applicants, the international nature of Macquarie is just one facet of the career progression available. With more than 16,000 employees, the opportunity for personal development and growth is huge. Funding and support for learning and training opportunities are offered.

The graduate programme at Macquarie is aimed at the best performers in their last year of undergraduate or Master’s study. A high standard of academic achievement is important for most business areas, though individual job descriptions may vary.

The Macquarie application process has several stages, and for some roles can take many weeks to complete. The online application form is the starting point for all routes; by logging in to the recruitment system you can track the progress of your application throughout.

The regular application process moves from the online application form to interviews: first a straightforward phone interview, then a face-to-face interview. Following this comes a series of psychometric tests (taken at home or in the Macquarie office) and the last stage is a final interview.

The graduate programme application opens once a year, on 1 September. The closing date depends on the programme applied for; more information on this can be found when you begin the process.

Macquarie online application form

The online application form is a simple combination of CV, cover letter and answers to questions about you (eg personal details, education and relevant experience).

Once completed, the graduate recruitment team will review your application, and if you meet the criteria you will be invited to the next stage.

Macquarie Aptitude Tests

Macquarie describes its assessment as coming in two parts, one measuring cognitive ability and the other measuring behavioural preferences, and asks you to allow up to two hours in total. The reasoning half is widely reported to be Talent Q, now part of Korn Ferry, covering verbal, numerical and logical reasoning, though Macquarie does not name its provider publicly.

There is no pass or fail mark. The graduate recruitment team is looking to find out whether you have the skills and attributes that match the requirements of the programme. Early careers candidates usually get 48 hours to complete it once the link arrives.

Your recruiter will send you information about what to expect and a practice assessment. The psychometric tests are usually completed at home, though you may be asked to complete a verification test later in the application process.

Macquarie verbal reasoning test

The verbal reasoning test presents several passages of text, which you need to quickly read and understand. Careful analysis of the information provided will allow you to answer the multiple-choice questions that follow.

The paragraphs of information and the questions themselves are not necessarily difficult to interpret; the time pressure is what makes it challenging.

Macquarie numerical reasoning test

Numerical reasoning assessments present a candidate with numerical data in the form of tables, graphs and ratios. Questions about the data are asked with multiple-choice answers.

To be successful you need to have a basic understanding of mathematical functions, plus the ability to quickly read and process information. Again, these are not inherently difficult, but the unusual presentation combined with a short time limit adds pressure.

As there are no ‘negative marks’ for an incorrect answer, it’s a good idea to focus on answering as many questions as you can.

Macquarie logical reasoning test

The logical reasoning test, sometimes called abstract reasoning, determines your ability to recognise patterns in shapes and use the information given to make a reasonable deduction as to what comes next. For this assessment, you need to look carefully at each pattern to understand how it works before you predict the next shape. This is also a multiple-choice test.

Macquarie video interview

If your psychometric test results suggest that you have the required skills and aptitudes, you will be invited to the next stage of the application process: a video interview.

This involves answering pre-recorded questions under timed conditions, to demonstrate your passion and interest in both Macquarie and the programme you have chosen.

The questions in the video interview are tailored to the business group you have applied for, and successful candidates will need to demonstrate that they are commercially minded.

Macquarie Superday

The final stage of the Macquarie application process is the Superday. Successful applicants will be invited to join the team at the Macquarie offices to complete some further assessments and have more interviews.

During the Superday you can expect to complete a presentation about a case study or article, and you may have to complete a problem-solving activity with a team.

There will likely be further interviews with colleagues and mentors, as well as competency-based questions to assess you further. During these interviews, it is important to show that you have done your research about Macquarie, and can demonstrate why you think you would be successful.

Feedback on your performance at the Superday will be provided (even if you are not successful).